Zafirlukast: Uses, Side Effects, Dosage
Zafirlukast belongs to a group of medicines called leukotriene receptor antagonists.
Zafirlukast is a prescription medication for the prevention of asthma attacks. It works by blocking the action of leukotrienes, a natural substance that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways.
Leukotrienes are chemicals that your body releases when you breathe in an allergen (such as pollen). These chemicals cause lung inflammation and muscle constriction in the airways, which can lead to asthma symptoms.
Zafirlukast Uses
Zafirlukast is used for the chronic treatment of asthma and for the prevention of asthma attacks in adults and children from 5 years of age.
Medical treatment of chronic asthma
Preventing exercise-induced asthma
Relieving the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
For the treatment of asthma
Note
It only starts after 3 to 14 days of treatment. Therefore, it should not be used to treat an acute asthma attack, since immediate relief is required.
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 5 years without medical advice.
Mechanism
Zafirlukast blocks the action of leukotrienes, chemicals that are released by the body as part of the inflammatory response.
Leukotrienes work in many parts of the body. In the lungs, they act in two ways, resulting in a narrowing of the airways. They cause a contraction of the muscles of the respiratory tract, making them narrower. In addition, leukotrienes cause inflammation of the lining of the respiratory tract, resulting in increased mucus production and additional constriction of the respiratory tract.
Precautions
Don’t take this medicine if you have
Allergy to zafirlukast or any other part of zafirlukast.
Allergy to any drugs in this class.
Liver disease.
Do not breast-feed while you take zafirlukast
Do not give this medicine to a child younger than 5 years without a doctor’s advice
Zafirlukast Side effects
Medications and their potential side effects can affect people in different ways. You will find below some of the side effects associated with this medicine. The fact that an adverse reaction is detected here does not mean that all people taking this medicine will experience this effect or an adverse effect.
The most common health side effects include:
Dizziness
Headache
Abdominal pain
Sore throat
Nausea
Diarrhea
Respiratory infections
Rhinitis
Other health side effects and adverse effects include:
Liver failure
Eosinophilia
Vasculitis
Fever
Back pain
Bleeding
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Some medications should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medications can be used safely during pregnancy or breastfeeding if the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the fetus. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, always inform your doctor before taking any medication.
Interaction
Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:
Pimozide
Cisapride
Aspirin
Carbamazepine
Phenytoin
Cyclosporine
Dofetilide
Erythromycin or clarithromycin
Diltiazem,
Felodipine,
Nifedipine,
Tolbutamide
Warfarin
Quinidine, or
Verapamil
Theophylline
Dosage
It is usually taken twice a day on an empty stomach, 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.
The recommended dose for the treatment of asthma is 10 mg twice daily in children aged 5 to 11 years and 20 mg twice daily in persons over 12 years of age.
Food reduces the absorption of this medicine.
Zafirlukast belongs to a group of medicines called leukotriene receptor antagonists.
Leukotrienes are chemicals that your body releases when you breathe in an allergen (such as pollen). These chemicals cause lung inflammation and muscle constriction in the airways, which can lead to asthma symptoms.
Zafirlukast Uses
Zafirlukast is used for the chronic treatment of asthma and for the prevention of asthma attacks in adults and children from 5 years of age.
Medical treatment of chronic asthma
Preventing exercise-induced asthma
Relieving the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
For the treatment of asthma
Note
It only starts after 3 to 14 days of treatment. Therefore, it should not be used to treat an acute asthma attack, since immediate relief is required.
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 5 years without medical advice.
Mechanism
Zafirlukast blocks the action of leukotrienes, chemicals that are released by the body as part of the inflammatory response.
Leukotrienes work in many parts of the body. In the lungs, they act in two ways, resulting in a narrowing of the airways. They cause a contraction of the muscles of the respiratory tract, making them narrower. In addition, leukotrienes cause inflammation of the lining of the respiratory tract, resulting in increased mucus production and additional constriction of the respiratory tract.
Precautions
Don’t take this medicine if you have
Allergy to zafirlukast or any other part of zafirlukast.
Allergy to any drugs in this class.
Liver disease.
Do not breast-feed while you take zafirlukast
Do not give this medicine to a child younger than 5 years without a doctor’s advice
Zafirlukast Side effects
Medications and their potential side effects can affect people in different ways. You will find below some of the side effects associated with this medicine. The fact that an adverse reaction is detected here does not mean that all people taking this medicine will experience this effect or an adverse effect.
The most common health side effects include:
Dizziness
Headache
Abdominal pain
Sore throat
Nausea
Diarrhea
Respiratory infections
Rhinitis
Other health side effects and adverse effects include:
Liver failure
Eosinophilia
Vasculitis
Fever
Back pain
Bleeding
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Some medications should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medications can be used safely during pregnancy or breastfeeding if the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the fetus. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, always inform your doctor before taking any medication.
Interaction
Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:
Pimozide
Cisapride
Aspirin
Carbamazepine
Phenytoin
Cyclosporine
Dofetilide
Erythromycin or clarithromycin
Diltiazem,
Felodipine,
Nifedipine,
Tolbutamide
Warfarin
Quinidine, or
Verapamil
Theophylline
Dosage
It is usually taken twice a day on an empty stomach, 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.
The recommended dose for the treatment of asthma is 10 mg twice daily in children aged 5 to 11 years and 20 mg twice daily in persons over 12 years of age.
Food reduces the absorption of this medicine.
Therefore, it should be taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals
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